Room Service
Chapter 13
WhatsApp Private Chat
James Potter to Lily Evans
13/10/2021 10:05 a.m.
xxxxxx
James: Good morning Evans
I know you're probably still sleeping but
I wanted to apologize again for last night
Didn't mean to make you uncomfortable or make you think that I don't want to talk to you anymore
So what I'm saying is
If I haven't completely cocked things up yet
Will you give me another chance?
WhatsApp Private Chat
Lily Evans to James Potter
13/10/2021 11:12 a.m.
xxxxxx
Lily: Hi James
I see you've made it a habit to text me when I can't immediately reply
James: Terribly sorry
But I have a feeling you're torturing me now in retribution
I'm having a nervous breakdown over here you know
Lily: Now would I ever do something like that?
James: Lily…
Lily: You have nothing to apologize for you idiot
What you said was right
I know I'm being selfish here
James: You're really not
Your job is important to you
I get that
So how about that second chance
Lily: Are you going to office today?
James: I am
Lily: Then we can talk once you're back
James: You're ruthless
Lily: Have a good day Bill
Lily passes the first two hours at work that evening in relative peace and relaxation. With her strenuous relationship with James no longer weighing on her mind quite so heavily thanks to his texts in the morning, immersing herself in the daily hubbub of calls and greeting guests feels rather effortlessly easy. It's only when she receives a phone call from McGonagall right before dinner that this serenity is brought to a screeching halt.
"Mrs Potter will be calling the hotel soon," says her manager. "Just wanted to inform you beforehand so that it doesn't come as a surprise to you."
"Mrs Potter?" Lily feels herself pale a little more. "Is there… is there anything I can help her with?"
"I'm not entirely certain. She simply asked me who in the hotel has interacted the most with her sons, and I gave her your name." McGonagall pauses, voice sounding somewhat distracted when she speaks again. "I think she just wants to check in on them from a third person, Evans. Nothing to worry about."
"Okay."
"Now, I'm expecting another call soon, so I have to keep this short. Anything else you want to discuss?"
"No, everything's good here." She grimaces. "Thank you for letting me know."
"Of course. Have a good evening, Evans."
Luckily enough, she only has to spend around twenty minutes agonizing over what Mrs Potter—James Potter's mother—could possibly have to talk about with her, because Lily finds herself wrangled into a rather time-consuming affair of looking for a harrowed guest's lost diamond earring, which the woman insists that she's dropped somewhere around the lobby. After several minutes of pointless searching, her husband comes downstairs to tell her that he's found the piece of jewellery stuck onto his shirt, and the two of them leave with red faces and repeated assurances from Lily that it's quite alright.
All of these events effectively make her forget about the significant, impending phone call.
Right up until it's no longer impending, but rather happening.
"Hello. This is The Golden Stag hotel. How may I help you?"
"Hi! Am I speaking to Lily Evans?" Inquires the pleasant, lilting voice on the other end. The familiar, posh accent and the confidence in the woman's tone instantly bring her conversation with McGonagall back to the forefront of Lily's mind.
"Yes, this is her."
"Oh, how wonderful to finally speak with you, dear. I'm Euphemia Potter, James's mother."
There's a lot to be said about how the woman has decided to introduce herself as James's mother rather than the owner of the very hotel that employs Lily and allows her to feed herself, but the surprise and incredulity born from this observation can hardly make it past Lily's lips, not when she's still stunned by what is transpiring. So, all she manages to do in response is squeak out an acceptable greeting and a nice to speak with you, too.
"I must say I have been looking forward to talking to you for a while now," Euphemia confesses. "I've been hearing very many lovely things about you from Minerva ever since you've joined us."
She feels something swell in her chest, feels a grin slip quickly over her lips. "Thank you, Mrs Potter. I really enjoy my work here."
"It's Euphemia, please, and—" Amusement flutters in Lily's throat at the familiar phrase, "I should really be the one thanking you. Both for managing our hotel so well, and for handling my sons. I know they're grown men, but they can really cause quite a bit of nuisance sometimes."
Despite the words, there's no mistaking the fondness and love that drip from Euphemia's tone.
Lily smiles. "There's really nothing that I have done. Both Sirius and James have been… a pleasure to host."
"Well, that's pleasantly surprising," she laughs. "Minerva told me that you've had the chance to get to know them the best amongst the staff, on account of having a night shift and the two of them returning from work so late."
"Yes, I suppose you could say that." Lily presses her lips together, wonders where this is going.
"That's a relief, actually, because… I wanted to ask you something, dear."
"Um, yes, of course."
"It's actually a little silly, but—" Euphemia pauses to exhale, and Lily becomes momentarily distracted at the thought of whether her chin tilts a little lower with the breath like James's does. "It's about my son. And while I'd generally ask him this directly, I suspect his answer is not going to be any different than what he's been giving me for the past week. So I was hoping you could keep this just between the two of us."
Beyond being unable to say no to her employer, Lily is instantly roped into a thread of curiosity, thereby finding it impossible to do anything but agree immediately. "Alright."
"Has something happened in the hotel since James and Sirius have arrived? Something of note?"
"I'm…" Lily frowns, "not entirely sure what you mean."
"James has been strangely quiet whenever we've spoken lately, and quiet is not a descriptor I'd associate with him generally."
"No," she murmurs. "It wouldn't be too accurate."
"I'm glad you agree," Euphemia says, some enthusiasm entering her voice now. "And it's not a bad sort of quiet, either, and that confuses me greatly. Every time I've brought it up with him, he has assured me that it's nothing at all. When I spoke to Sirius, he told me… well, I'll be honest with you, Lily, he told me you'd be the best person to ask."
"What?!" Lily squawks in surprise, face burning. Oh, she's going to murder Sirius Black. "Me? But I've—I honestly don't know—"
"No, no, I don't suppose James would have said anything outright to you. But perhaps… have you made any observations?"
"Observations?"
"Have you noticed him being distracted or—and I don't mean to make you uncomfortable or put you on the spot, Lily, but—attracted to anyone in the hotel? One of the other guests, perhaps?"
Oh God.
Oh god oh god oh god.
She tries to swallow past the tightness in her throat; only half-succeeds. "I'm, uh—"
"Oh, don't worry, I don't have a problem with any such thing. It's just that James generally confides about these things to me, but he hasn't this time, and I don't understand why. He'll not even admit that something's different. But I'm his mother, so—" she stops on a sigh, and Lily truly feels the silent sadness lacing her following words. "I just wanted to make sure nothing is bothering him, darling. I know I said he likes to cause his fair bit of mischief, but…"
"He's your son," Lily completes softly. "And you worry about him. It's completely normal."
"You must think I'm a very nosy mother." She can hear Euphemia's smile through the phone. "You wouldn't be entirely wrong."
She laughs slightly. "I think every caring mother is at least a little bit nosy. You're just trying to make sure he's alright. So, I can understand."
"And is he? Alright?"
Lily bites her lower lip, feels her brows furrow. "I—I think so. Honestly, he seems perfectly at ease to me every time we talk."
"And do you think there's anything, or anyone, else that might be… occupying his thoughts?"
She opens her mouth to respond, but at that very moment, her gaze latches onto the two figures making their way inside the hotel entrance, across the lobby. James's hazel eyes immediately seek her out, lips lifting the slightest bit at the corners as he approaches the reception with a hopeful smile. Heart thundering away inside her chest, Lily can only watch as he waves at Sirius to go on without him, as his crisp white shirt shifts and pulls over his torso with every step he takes.
Fuck her, he's too fucking handsome.
Mate. Mate. Only mate.
"Lily?"
"Yes, sorry." She blinks, jolting back into herself at Euphemia's prompting. The granite countertop feels cold under her fingertips as she refocuses on it in an attempt to think straight. "I, um—I don't know. I don't think so."
There. Only a half lie.
"Oh, well. It was worth a try," the woman chuckles.
A strange sort of pang echoes through Lily's chest when James comes to a halt right on the other side of the counter, arms folding to rest just a few inches away from where her own fingers draw circles on the desk. "Hi," he mouths, grinning almost shyly at her. She inclines her head in response, unable to stop herself from smiling back.
"I hope to keep in touch, Lily. It was wonderful speaking to you."
"Oh, yes, of course," she stutters back hurriedly, all too conscious of how James's eyes run over her face while she talks. "It was lovely speaking to you, as well."
"Goodbye for now, then."
"Goodbye."
The breath that whooshes out of her once she's placed the handset back into its holder probably reeks of relief, but there's only so much tension-filled air she can keep contained inside, only so many thoughts she can entertain at a time.
"Wow, who was that?" James's amused tone pulls her attention back to him. She turns around to find one brow arched curiously. "You look like you've just given the most stressful interview of your life."
"No, it was just—it was someone who had a few difficult questions for me." And before he can find the time to inquire further on it—and he will, she can see it in the way the light dances behind his glasses—she throws one of her own at him. "How are you, James?"
"I—" he looks properly thrown. "I suppose I'm pretty good. Why do you ask?"
"Are you sure? You're not… bothered by anything?"
The amusement slips from his face a little, eyes boring into hers as he leans forward, close enough that she's exposed to the familiar, intoxicating scent of him and his cologne. "Why are you asking, Evans?"
She feels warm under the collar of her shirt. "Just… just being polite."
He doesn't buy it; of course, he doesn't. Anyone with half a brain could catch her paltry attempt at lying. And yet, despite the fact that she reads his disbelief on his face plainly, for some reason that escapes her completely, James simply answers, "The only thing I'm bothered by, right this instant, is that you've rather cruelly kept me hanging since morning with your message, and you're still refusing to put me out of my misery."
Lily rolls her eyes, grateful to him for nudging the conversation into—relatively—safer waters. "I don't know, Potter," she hums, giddiness swelling in her chest at the playful glint she spots in his irises. "I pick my mates after a lot of consideration, and they're generally not in the habit of bugging me with phone calls when I'm at work."
"We all have our faults," he sighs remorsefully. "But I promise I'm a brilliant mate, Evans. You can ask anyone—except Sirius, because he loves acting like an arse when given the opportunity—and they'll tell you. Besides, if nothing else, I can make you laugh."
"Who said you make me laugh?" Lily asks, while trying to bite back a laugh.
"Oh?" He stares at her challengingly. "Are you saying I don't?"
"I'm saying I don't recall any such instan—wait, what are you doing?"
He shrugs casually, feet never slowing. "Joining you behind the counter to refresh your memories."
"James, no! Get back there."
A wolfish grin spills over his lips. "I don't think so. Not until you admit that I make you laugh."
"Well, that's just blackmail—" Lily's voice cuts off on a pitch when the intercom rings behind her. She glances over her shoulder; looks back at James. "—I need to get that."
Such is his insistence though, that before she can even budge an inch from her spot, James reaches out a hand and wraps it around her arm. The warmth of his touch sends a sudden jolt up her skin, something he thankfully doesn't comment on. "Say that I make you laugh."
"James!" she hisses—ironically on a laugh. "You're bloody mental."
"I'm not hearing you say it, Evans. That poor guest must be getting impatient."
"My God, fine, yes, you make me laugh." She tries to sound exasperated, but probably fails spectacularly given how large the grin on her face has gotten. "Happy now?"
"Mm, halfway there." He smirks, and—Jesus, she wants to kiss him. No. No, she doesn't, that was not her. "Are we mates, then?"
Lily scoffs like they both don't already know the answer; like they've not been teetering on this edge since the very first time they'd stood on either side of the reception desk. "We're mates," she replies, watching the smirk curl higher over his mouth as she gently pulls her hand away. "Now get the fuck out of here before I murder you and make this the shortest friendship ever in history."
"To be slain by you, Evans?" James sweeps into a silly bow. "There are worse ways to go."
She wonders, for several minutes after his departure and after her phone call ends, whether either of them has truly grasped the meaning of what being mates with each other entails. Whether it is even an achievable state for them, given what they both know now; given the attraction they feel for each other, laid bare and exposed to be picked at.
Because the flirting—however mild—that has just occurred, doesn't escape her notice. But her heart, which flutters at the thought of simply having that lopsided grin and ease back in her life, promptly stops her from trying to snuff out that pulsing bit of brightness again.
A/N - If you've read Retribution, that joke was not intentional. (At least not at first).